RECAP ON WAYS TO REACH US

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Let's start this issue with a very short recap the three ways in which you can reach us. If you want the full article, you will find it here.

Ways to reach us (full article)

Telephone (recommended)

Always ring us if you need a quicker response from us.

This allows us to interact with you directly and give you the most appropriate and timely advice in real-time.

Front desk (queues likely)

Patients may wish to turn up at the front desk to speak to a receptionist, however, please be aware that queues are likely.

Online consultation request (not for anything urgent)

Online consultation requests are an option, for medical and administrative issues, but they are never for urgent problems. If you feel you need a quicker response from us, always ring us.

We will always try and help you

Whichever method you use to contact us, we will always do our best to try and help you, whether that be by giving you advice, calling you in for an assessment, or signposting you to an appropriate service.

And in line with our longstanding philosophy of promoting self-care and resilience in our patient population, any advice we give may be supplemented with information on other options for help, including referral to other members of the GP healthcare team and/or self-referral to other NHS workers.

Other options for help

Self-referral index Meet the GP team Options if full Options if closed

 

FLU VACC UPDATE

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Vicki, our operational manager, now writes about the recent flu clinics in October.

It's not too late to have your flu vaccination

After the resounding success of our main flu and secondary clinics here at the surgery through October and November we have this update for you.

With flu cases already triple what they were this time last year, we are still urging every patient eligible who hasn't already had their vaccine to book now, as we still have vaccines available, but they won't last forever!

We have vaccinated so many of our patients that are eligible but if you haven't been vaccinated and are eligible, you can still book to come and see one of our amazing vaccination team members - please contact reception now and get booking, we can't wait to see you.

Do also let us know if you don't wish to have your vaccine this year, so we can update our records. You can do this by calling us, dropping into the front desk, or by filling out our simple flu refusal webform (link below). This will mean that we don't unnecessarily trouble you for a flu vaccine if you have already decided you don't want one this year (but please do remember that we will be inviting you again next year).

But if you do want a flu vaccine, do call us - by getting your vaccination now you will be putting the best possible protection in place for yourself and your loved ones, and also helping to protect our NHS as we continue to navigate the challenging winter months. Thank you!

Please do give us a call. It's not too late!

Flu page Flu refusal form Covid vacc page NHS: Flu advice

 

SIMPLE HOME PAGE

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You may have noticed that the Ivy Grove Surgery website is not your run-of-the-mill surgery website. It is used as a searchable repository of patient information, with resources for clinicians to refer patients to, as well as resources for patients to refer themselves. It acts as a record of how we work with policies and processes that educate both patients and staff. It has been designed to integrate seamlessly with our patient clinical system, text messaging service and online consultations.

The website has also been designed from the ground up to be a responsive mobile-ready site - you will find the website displays and formats differently depending on your device, and whether you use your device in portrait or landscape mode. Given that most users of the website now visit it using their mobile devices, this facility should help users see the website displayed as it was intended, without everything being too crowded or looking like it was just cobbled together.

Our shortcut links ivy.gs (standing for Ivy Grove Surgery) along with the corresponding second-halves (for example, ivy.gs/physio, ivy.gs/dentist) have now been in place for over a decade and is the most popular way people access the site. TOP TIP Even if you don't know the full address, you can have a wild guess at the second-half and it should direct you to the right page (so for the physio example above, the shortcut ivy.gs/physiotherapist, ivy.gs/neck-pain, ivy.gs/muscle, ivy.gs/joints will all go to the physio page).

Some of the information pages on the website are popular not just with local patients, but with patients and other health organisations from not just the UK, but also from around the world. For instance, cancer red flags, self-administration of vitamin B12 injection, repeat tests, private providers and ADHD referral process.

We regularly get requests from many GP surgeries all over the UK to use, share and adapt our extensive content, for the benefit of patients everywhere. At a recent count, there were nearly 250 web pages, nearly 2,000 documents and over 55,000 links on the site!

However, due to the wealth of information on the site, we appreciate that landing on the home page and trying to navigate to where you want to be might not always be easy. To help, you can use the ivy.gs shortcuts as mentioned, but there is also a search page and site map of popular pages. Now, following feedback, we have designed an alternative, much simplified home page for those patients who cannot find what they are looking for.

To access this simplified version, please either click the link below our surgery name, entitled 'simple home page' - see the image to the left.

You can also click the big yellow button called 'show/hide menu help' on the home page to show tips on all menu options, or to get to the simple home page directly, just type the shortcut ivy.gs/simple into your browser.

Once you get to the simple home page, you will then be presented with a single page with a series of buttons providing access to the most frequently visited areas of our website, such as mental health support, repeat medications, self-referral index and PatientAccess login .

We hope that this change will make it easier for everyone. We will continue to monitor how patients use the site so that your browsing experience is optimised.

Simple home page Full home page Search page

 

CERVICAL SMEAR UPDATE

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Further to the update to the cervical smear programme which we informed you about in the last issue, we report a further update.

From September 2025, the NHS will begin sending digital results from the NHS Cervical Screening Programme directly to patients via the NHS App.

If your test result is negative, you'll receive a message within the NHS App, which will also trigger a notification. If the message isn't read within 72 hours, a letter will be sent to you as a failsafe.

For now, abnormal test results will continue to be sent by post.

This update follows the successful rollout of digital invitations and reminders earlier in June 2025, when the NHS confirmed that 9 out of every 10 invitations are now being sent digitally, with the remainder still sent by letter.

IGS: Previous newsletter update IGS: NHS App page NHS: NHS App NHS: Cervical screening NHS: When you'll be invited for cervical screening

 

DR GREER'S MARATHON QUEST

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Dr Greer now writes with an update to her next marathon quest:

For those of you who have read previous instalments of the Ivy Grove Newsletter, you will already know about my passion for running and my previous London Marathon exploits, but I thought it time for another little update!

In April 2024 I completed my first ever Marathon, the London Marathon, and decided that given it may be my only opportunity to run this iconic race, that it would be a good idea to raise some money for charity whilst I was at it! I chose The Miscarriage Association who are a small charity who provide valuable support to those affected by pregnancy loss. As you may know this is a charity close to my heart having experienced two miscarriages between my two beautiful children. I managed to raise over £1,600 with sponsorship coming from friends, family, my wonderful colleagues at Ivy Grove and some of the lovely patients I have looked after over the years.

I decided to try my luck and enter again for 2025 and although I wasn't successful in the ballot, The Miscarriage Association were kind enough to offer me one of their converted charity places in view of my previous fundraising success. Training was going well but sadly I developed an injury earlier this year and had to defer my place to next year's race. I can't wait to get to the start line again for The London marathon in April 2026!!

I have a fundraising target this year of £1800 which is no small feat but will go a long way to helping my chosen charity. £5 could pay to send information to someone going through pregnancy loss, £25 could pay for the technology to run the charity's live chat service for a whole month and £50 could pay for two support groups per week for those who have experienced pregnancy loss.

This year I have started a second hand-book stall at the surgery as part of my fundraising efforts where you can peruse and purchase some fabulous books including fiction, biographies, children's books, recipe books and more! All the books on sale have been graciously donated by my friends and family, the staff at Ivy Grove and patients at Ivy Grove.

Next time you are in the surgery do have a look and pop your pennies in the collection tins or scan the QR code on the wall if you wish to take any books home with you. Alternatively, if you have any unwanted books you want to donate please drop them in at reception and we will gratefully take them off your hands! A big thank you to everyone who has already donated books or purchased books from the stall. So far, the book sale has raised a fantastic £234 and hopefully this will continue in the coming months!!

Over the next 20 weeks I will be hitting the pavements come rain or shine to ensure I'm in the best shape possible when I reach that start line in London! I recently ran The Robin Hood Half Marathon in Nottingham and The Pudding Run 10K in Shipley Park as part of my pre-marathon preparation and find running a great way to keep physically and mentally healthy. It certainly gives me time away from the chores at home anyway!

Thank you in advance for all your support and watch this space for more updates in the coming months.

Needless to say, we wish Dr Greer every success in her quest. If you wish to support Dr Greer, please scan the QR code on the right, or click the link below.

Support Dr Greer now Miscarriage Association NHS: Miscarriage NHS: Exercise

 

GREENER GENERAL PRACTICE UPDATE

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Dr Neely continues her series of articles on Greener General Practice.

Carbon Emissions

Primary care drives nearly 25% of NHS carbon emissions—mostly from medicines. The area we are trying to make the biggest improvements is through inhaler prescribing. This will take years to improve as much as possible so we will continue to update you regularly on this.

The area pharmacists have let us know the areas we can improve on the most with inhalers, currently it is switching from aerosol-based inhalers to dry powder inhalers. Currently Derbyshire is the 8th worst area for high carbon emissions from inhalers, so we know there is a great scope for improvement. We don't want to take away or cut down inhalers unless your asthma or other respiratory condition has got better, but we do want to make sure you are on the best treatment (this may mean switching inhalers).

Studies show that well-controlled asthma means the lowest carbon footprint possible for you. Other ways to help are to try new dry powder inhalers, these may be offered to you at your review or a lower carbon footprint aerosol inhaler. Most manufacturers are stopping producing high carbon footprint inhalers soon, so please do try the new ones at your next review.

If you want to read up, please look at Asthma + Lung UK (link below) and book in with one of our respiratory nurses for a review.

NHS Forest

NHS Forest - we're looking into how we can be part of the NHS Forest initiative, using our grounds to help patients and the planet, we'll let you know what is happening soon.

NHSE: Delivering a net zero NHS Asthma + Lung UK: Changing to a lower-carbon inhaler NHS Forest

 

MINOR OPS UPDATE

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Dr Greer, one of our minor ops doctors, presents an update to our minor ops service:

As you may already know, we offer a minor surgery service at Ivy Grove, which unfortunately has been on hold for quite some time due to a national shortage of the local anaesthetic, xylocaine with adrenaline.

We are pleased to report that we are now able to re-start our clinics as we have been able to source a suitable alternative, lidocaine and adrenaline which we can mix in surgery.

On the NHS we can remove skin lesions that are causing symptoms such as pain, itching or irritation. These include skin tags, cysts, non-cancerous (benign) moles, warty lesions called seborrhoeic keratoses and occasionally fatty lumps called lipomas. Unfortunately, we cannot remove skin lesions purely for aesthetic (cosmetic) reasons.

We would like to thank you for your patience if you have been on the waiting list for a procedure. We will be running clinics as often as we can to ensure those of you waiting can have your procedures as quickly as possible. As part of the new process, we have revamped our consent procedures. You will receive a text message with a video link with all the information you need about what to expect when you come to clinic and the important information you need to be aware of regarding the procedure.

If you have any concerning skin lesions, then please contact reception who will be happy to assist you. This may include a request for you to send a photo of the lesion or an appointment with a clinician to review the lesion in person. If the lesion is amenable to minor surgery, we will add you to a suitable upcoming clinic.

Many thanks again for your patience and understanding.

 

VASECTOMY REQUESTS

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Talking about operations, we now have a snippet of news about vasectomies. [Get it? Ah, never mind - Ed.]

Unfortunately, there are some current difficulties with referrals for vasectomy procedures in Derbyshire, which is understandably causing frustration for both patients and clinicians.

The issue is that the Integrated Care Board, the body which commissions this service, has a defined budget for vasectomies. A community health provider is commissioned to provide the service, and this provider then subcontracts to a number of GP surgeries to deliver the service. The budget allows for a certain number of vasectomies to be carried out each year.

Unfortunately, that budget has already been exhausted partway through the year and it is unlikely that access to vasectomy services will improve before the next contract review in 2026.

Whilst we can continue to advise men needing vasectomies, please be aware that we may not be able to refer you anywhere to actually get the procedure done, perhaps not until the new financial year.

The situation is currently being monitored, but unfortunately, we have no control whatsoever over commissioned services, therefore, if you have concerns, you may wish to contact the commissioner of such services, the Integrated Care Board.

Contact Joined Up Care Derbyshire

 

FORMER PRACTICE BUSINESS MANAGER

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Our previous Practice Business Manager, Ian Bonser, bids a farewell to you all:

After three extremely rewarding years as the Practice Business Manager at Ivy Grove Surgery, it's time for me to pass on the baton - and, more importantly, the inbox - to someone new. I have recently moved on to a Practice Business Manager role in Nottingham - a role that aligns more closely with my second NHS role and will help me achieve a healthier, more balanced work life.

Leaving Ivy Grove Surgery was a really difficult decision. This practice has been a fantastic place to work, and I feel very fortunate to have been part of such a dedicated, compassionate, and hardworking team. I will always be grateful for the support, teamwork, and kindness I experienced, and genuinely enjoyed going to work every single day. It has been a privilege to work alongside colleagues who consistently put patients first and who really care about the community they serve.

I am also pleased to introduce and warmly welcome your new Practice Business Manager, Weiwei Mao. Weiwei brings a wealth of experience, fresh ideas, and a real enthusiasm for supporting both the team and our patients. I have every confidence that the practice will continue to thrive; it is always easier leaving a role you care so much about when you know you are handing over to someone who will continue to move things forward.

I would like to thank everyone at the practice - the GP partners, the staff and all our patients for making my time here so enjoyable. I will look back on my time here with genuine fondness.

We wish Ian all the best in his new role and future career.

 

NEW PRACTICE BUSINESS MANAGER

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Our new Practice Business Manager, Weiwei Mao, introduces herself to you all:

When I think back to my first few days at Ivy Grove Surgery, the moment that really stands out is the flu clinic on Saturday October 4th. It was busy, lively, and full of familiar faces I didn't quite know yet - but many of you took a moment to smile, say hello, or share a quick chat. I remember leaving that day feeling that this is a place with real community spirit.

I officially joined the surgery as Practice Business Manager on October 6, 2025, but in many ways, it already feels like home. I've spent over 10 years working in general practice management across different parts of England, and one thing that has always inspired me is how unique every surgery is. Each one has its own rhythm, its own strengths, and its own stories. Ivy Grove, though, has something especially warm about it—something I felt from day one.

Not long after starting, I had the chance to meet our Patient Participation Group in October. They welcomed me with open arms and immediately began sharing insights from patients - what's working, what could be improved, and what matters most to the people we serve. Together, we've already been shaping our new patient questionnaire, now available at the reception desk. If you see it next time you're in, it's there because our patients genuinely help guide our direction.

What excites me most about being here isn't just the role - it's the people. The team at Ivy Grove is full of dedicated, intelligent, and caring individuals who go the extra mile for patients every single day. Stepping into this environment makes me feel not just optimistic, but grateful. I can already see how much I'll grow alongside them and how much we'll accomplish together.

So, if you see me around the waiting room or reception, please say hello. I'm here, listening, and really looking forward to being part of your surgery story - now and in the years ahead.

Please join us in welcoming Weiwei to the practice.

 

CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS

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We have now published our Christmas and New Year opening hours. We will be closed on all bank holidays and the weekends as usual. We will be open as usual on all other weekdays with the exception of both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve when we will be closing early.

Demand is always very high at this time of year, therefore we encourage all patients to order their repeat prescriptions well in time, and to consider getting the right help they need from the right professional at the right time.

To access medical help during the times we are closed, please visit our 'options when closed' section and check other resources below to help you get the help you need.

Opening hours Options when closed Options if full Mental health support Are you poorly? Refer yourself See the GP team

 

INFOGRAPHIC POSTERS

We continue our series of information posters and present the latest selection below. These posters are being used by GP surgeries all over the UK, on waiting room noticeboards, TV screens and GP websites and social media. As well as informing patients and the public about General Practice, they have been used for staff training purposes too. We hope you find them interesting.

 

DID YOU KNOW WHERE HEALTH BEGINS?

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This poster illustrates that there is much more to health than access to a GP, which is the only thing that politicians ever focus on. Health begins with many things and until those issues (known as the social determinants of health) are also tackled, there will continue to be risks to people's health.

 

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT GP BUSINESS?

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This poster is part 1 of a series on GP business and gives a brief overview on important aspects of the business of General Practice.

 

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE GP CONTRACT?

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This poster is part 2 of a series on GP business and describes the difficult contract that GP surgeries and GP partners have to work to.

 

DID YOU KNOW WHY THE NHS NEEDS GP PARTNERS?

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This poster is part 3 of a series on GP business and indicates some of the many reasons why the NHS actually does need GP partners - there is actually very little mention of GP partners in future NHS planning or by politicians in general, which is ironic given that GP partners run the vast majority of GP surgeries, which are neighbourhood health centres where the vast majority of patients interact with the NHS.

 

DID YOU KNOW WHAT GP PARTNERS DO?

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This poster is part 4 of a series on GP business and describes some of the things that GP partners do on a daily basis at work, whilst also still providing day to day care to their patients.

 

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT GP ADMIN?

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This poster is part 5 of a series on GP business and gives an idea of what GPs, and mainly GP partners, get up to in terms of daily administrative workload in a GP surgery. Unfortunately, there seems no end to GP admin, a good proportion of which is externally imposed upon GP surgeries by outside agencies, such as government and regulators.

 

DID YOU KNOW GPs ARE OUT OF WORK?

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This poster is part 6 of a series on GP business and describes the ironic situation where the country needs GPs, there are GPs available, but GP surgeries cannot hire them, due to lack of funding.

 

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT GP TECHNOLOGY?

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This poster is about GP use of technology - contrary to many ignorant comments in the media and from politicians, GPs have always been, first and foremost out of all NHS sectors, at the cutting edge of technology with their resultant advances in patient care.

 

DID YOU KNOW HOW TO BRING BACK THE FAMILY DOCTOR?

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This poster highlights the BMA campaign about bringing back the family doctor. If there was greater emphasis on ensuring GP and GP staff recruitment and retention, there would be improvements in patient care.

 

DID YOU KNOW WHAT THE NHS 10 YEAR PLAN SAYS ABOUT YOUR GP SURGERY?

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This poster is part 1 of a series on the NHS 10 year plan, and highlights the significant lack of mention of anything substantial about plans for your GP surgery.

 

RESEARCH

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The practice joins the NIHR Research Network – a new chapter for patient care

Our Practice Business Manager, Weiwei Mao, writes about the practice's new involvement in research

We are delighted to announce that our practice has formally joined the NIHR research delivery network. This means that from now on, we will be actively involved with high-quality health and care research studies, led by our own GP Partners, Dr Lawrence Axten and Dr Riva Greer, who will serve as our Research Leads.

What this means for you

By becoming a research-active practice, we aim to bring new opportunities and benefits for our patients:

• Being involved in research helps us stay at the forefront of medical advances and preventive care
• Research-active teams tend to adopt best practices more quickly and can offer proactive management of health conditions. Indeed, embedding research within care has been shown to improve health outcomes
• We will publish all the research studies that we are running or participating in on our website (so you will always know what is happening)
• If you choose to take part in a study, you will be actively contributing to improvements in care—not just for yourself, but for our community now and in the future

What is the NIHR and how does this help?

The NIHR is the UK's national body that funds, enables and delivers health and social care research. Its mission is to improve people's health and wellbeing by supporting world-class research.

In joining this network, our practice is part of a broader drive to embed research in everyday care, ensuring that evidence‐based advances reach patients more widely.

What participation means (and what it doesn't)

• If a study is running at our practice (or one we refer to), we will provide clear information: what the study is about, what participation involves, and how long it lasts
• Your choice matters: Participation is entirely voluntary. You will always have the option to decline or withdraw—no impact on your routine care
• We will ensure all research is conducted under strict regulatory and ethical oversight (as required by NIHR-affiliated research)
• Data protection is paramount: Any personal information shared in the context of a research study will follow our GDPR/Data Protection policy and research regulations. If you choose to participate, you will be given full details about how your data will be used, stored and protected
• You will still receive the same standard of care whether you join a study or not

What about data and privacy?

We understand your concerns about how information is used in research. Here's how we manage it:

• Only data relevant to the study will be collected, and only with your explicit consent
• Your choice about participation will be documented, and you can change your mind at any time
• The practice's data-sharing processes remain fully compliant with NHS, research and GDPR/data protection standards
• We will publish on our website which studies we are enrolling patients into, so you know what we are doing and why
• If you decide not to take part, that choice is entirely respected and will not affect your care

How you can get involved

• Stay informed: Watch our practice website for announcements of new studies and check our dedicated 'Research' page
• Ask us: If you see a study and wonder whether it might be relevant to you, speak with any member of our admin team
• Consider participating: If you are eligible for a study, you may receive an invitation with full information. Taking part can help advance future care for you and others
• Your voice matters: Even if you don't take part, you may be invited to share your views about designing studies, helping shape research in our practice and community (patient involvement) – which is something NIHR emphasises

Stay tuned for more updates on this subject.

National Institute for Health and Care Research IGS: Research page (under construction)

 

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

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A difficult time of year

We know this time of year may well be difficult for many of you, so we just wanted to make sure that any patients experiencing difficulties were aware of the many resources available for help and support.

We have dedicated mental health support pages for all ages. Here are just some of the resources available. If in doubt, please ring and speak to someone and call for advice if needed.

Mental health support pages

Support landing page Kids Teens Adults Older people

Ring and speak to someone

Ring Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline 0800 028 0077 Ring Samaritans 116 123 Ring ChildLine 0800 1111 In a crisis resources

At risk of self-harm

Ring 999 if life is in danger Attend A+E Self-harm resources Calmzone 0800 58 58 58 Ring Papyrus 0800 068 4141 Ring Self-injury Support 0808 800 808 Text SHOUT to 85258

Help for elderly & vulnerable

Mental health resources

Loss of a loved one

Bereavement resources Derbyshire Bereavement Hub The Good Grief Trust

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse resources Ring Domestic Abuse Helpline 08000 198 668 Ring Refuge 0808 2000 247

Sleep problems

Sleep problems

Drink/drug problems

Alcohol/drug misuse resources Ring Derbyshire Recovery Partnership 01773 744594

 

RANDOM VIDEO QUIZ

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It's the time of year when we again present you with a random quiz from the selection that shows in our waiting room, but where you can take part in the comfort of your own home without the risk of coming out and catching a cough, cold or the sniffles.

A random one is chosen between medical anagrams and medical-related quizzes when you load the page, or you can actively refresh the page yourself to pick a new one. We hope you enjoy it.

Feel free to expand      and/or rotate your mobile device for the best results; if you leave the video running, it will progress to the next one in the series automatically until you refresh.

Medical Anagrams & Quiz Questions, various (4:02-7:47), Ivy Grove Surgery

Show another quiz

 

DAD JOKES

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Once again, it's that time of year when we showcase a small selection of medically-themed and very terrible Dad Jokes, just to lighten the mood a bit. Please note these are really very bad and we do apologise in advance!

As before, numbers in brackets give the indicative cringe factor as determined by some random dads from the waiting room.

PATIENT: So, what do I need to do for all my stress at home?
DOCTOR: You need to set up fish tank at home to help calm you
PATIENT: Why, how does that work?
ANSWER (9/10)DOCTOR: You'll have a load of indoor fins

GENETICIST 1: So, I crossed an alligator with a homing pigeon
GENETICIST 2: So, what happened?
ANSWER (7/10)GENETICIST 1: I'm afraid it came back to bite me

PET OWNER 1: So, my dog swallowed a load of Christmas lights, luckily the vet removed them
PET OWNER 2: So, how's your dog now?
ANSWER (9/10)PET OWNER 1: He's delighted

PATIENT: Doctor, I ate my birthday cake, and I now have terrible heartburn
ANSWER (6/10) DOCTOR: You do know you have to blow the candles out first?

DOCTOR: So how many children do you have?
PATIENT: Yes, I have one that's just under two
ANSWER (5/10)DOCTOR: I know how many one is

PATIENT: Doctor, I keep thinking I'm a mobius strip
DOCTOR: Why don't you tell me more?
ANSWER (6/10)PATIENT: So, where do I begin?

PERSON 1: You know, someone just called me on my phone, sneezed then hung up
ANSWER (6/10)PERSON 2: Yes, I get fed up of those cold calls too

PATIENT: Doctor, I just swallowed a bunch of synonyms
DOCTOR: What happened after that?
ANSWER (8/10)PATIENT: It gave me thesaurus throat I've ever had

DOCTOR: So, you are highly addicted to dad jokes
PATIENT: So, what do I need to do?
DOCTOR: I need to put you on a 12 step programme
ANSWER (8/10)PATIENT: 12 steps!? That dozen work!

 

POSITIVE FEEDBACK RECEIVED

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Thank you to those patients who continue to send us heartwarming messages of support in what continue to be extremely difficult times in General Practice.

We share all of these comments with our team, and hearing your messages really makes things worthwhile. Please continue sending them in. You can use our public profile on Google, or if you prefer a channel a little more private, you can use our contact form, or simply call into reception or at the front desk to leave your feedback with our staff.

We have implemented improvements to the service we provide to our patients as a result of feedback, so your comments remain welcome.

I would like to thank Mandy [reception team] for sorting out an issue I had yesterday. Mandy was polite, professional and efficient and it was a good job done – AF

I want to say how good Dr Neely had been this morning, she was very helpful and listened to all my concerns – AP

Thank you to Julie [reception team] and Dr Sarafraz, for a great job and quick response – CS

Please pass my thanks to Dr Francis who has been brilliant with me – GW

What a lovely GP Dr Safaraz is – JR

Thanks to the whole practice for continuous fantastic service - especially Dr Sarfaraz just recently who provided outstanding care – JT

A big thank you to Dr Axten – CW

Thank you to Cath for being so understanding last week – DL

Just spoke to a lovely lady called Cath [reception team] at Ivy Grove. Cath came across as such a pleasant, enthusiastic and knowledgeable person who immediately put me at ease. My personal opinion of this lady is 'what an asset" to your surgery – CD

I would like to thank Danielle for all her help recently with my appointment, she was very helpful – DS

I have been seen twice by Dr Harb and wish to say she is the most wonderful doctor, please pass on my thanks and gratitude – EM

We want to give thanks to reception staff, Emma and Lindsey [both nursing team] for the great care and helpfulness whenever we've needed you – KB

Thank you for your hard work. The flu inoculation event was brilliantly organised – JW

How brilliant Dr Francis was when I saw him recently. I am very grateful to him for sending me in and trying to get me sorted – ZR

Thanks to Dr Greer and Emma for making her feel so at ease during       earlier this week. I was embarrassed to attend but felt at ease and treated with dignity throughout – SJ

I received excellent service from Nurse Tracey and the reception staff – SB

Thanks for the help I always receive from the nurses and reception staff – MN

I attended clinic on       with Dr Greer and Emma. I would like to thank them for their patience and kindness during my appointment. Professional but human and extremely supportive. You both made an anxious patient feel at ease. Thank you – OB

I want to specifically express how brilliant Libby [admin team] has been at helping me and how she has gone above and beyond. Please ensure that both Libby's manager and Libby are made aware of my gratitude. – KB

Went to wellbeing clinic and had      . Was referred to surgery and given      . Receptionist immediately referred to GP, and then GP asked to see me. Very calm, very thorough, very helpful. I am very grateful – AB

★★★★★ – CB

★★★★ – DP

I want to thank everyone for their care and attention, you have all been faultless – CS

I received a questionnaire about my visit to the GPs, but I couldn't fill it in online so I I wanted to say I was greeted with a cheery 'hello' by a lovely receptionist (Julie) and then I was seen by Emma [nursing team] who was delightful and treated me so well – PY

 

 

FINALLY...

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So, with all that, another busy year passes at Ivy Grove Surgery

We wish all our patients the very best for the festive season and we send wishes for good health in the New Year!

Please look after yourselves, enjoy yourselves, but don't overdo it! See you all in 2026!

Kind regards

Ivy Grove Surgery